DOUGLAS Ross, leader of the Tories in Scotland, recognises that the Union is in trouble. Westminster simply doesn’t take it seriously. He plans to rescue it by ousting the SNP in the May elections and establishing himself as First Minister. But Mr Ross fails to grasp that the independence movement goes beyond any single party, and in the vanishingly unlikely event that he defeats the SNP in May, the demand for independence will not go away.

The game-changer has been Brexit. This has revealed the Union for the sham it has become. Holyrood, like the other devolved governments, has been completely excluded from the negotiating process. Apparently Brexit is an England-only affair. Mr Mundell made that clear when he told parliament that Scotland is not a partner in the Union. And when Holyrood last week rejected the contentious Internal Market Bill, Michael Gove announced that he will simply overrule their decision. Better Together?

The disdain with which Scotland has been treated since Brexit has been noted. So, too, has the respect with which Ireland has been treated by the EU. Ireland is an equal partner and its interests have been robustly defended – not sacrificed to the imperatives of Brexit. Whereas the UK seems happy to break the 1707 Treaty of Union, the Good Friday Agreement – and any other legally binding agreement that gets in the way – regardless of the damage this does to the other three nations.

We are at the mercy of perhaps the most recklessly incompetent and right-wing government in history. Brexit is a financial bonanza for the mega-rich and an economic disaster for the country. Mr Ross supports this government. He has absolutely nothing to offer Scotland.

Scotland must take a lesson from Ireland. With a population of 5.5 million and rich in resources, Scotland fits comfortably into the EU along with the dozen other small nations of comparable size. Scotland has a choice: to remain impotent and impoverished within an increasingly isolated and xenophobic UK – or to become independent and negotiate its way back into the EU to take its place among the grown-ups at the top table in Brussels. An equal partner in the decision-making processes. Genuinely better together.

Marsali MacDonald
Peebles

I AM delighted that I am one of the SNP’s approved candidates for Eastwood for next year’s Scottish Parliamentary elections. This will be with the aim of taking this key constituency from Jackson Carlaw and helping to secure a pro-independence majority in Holyrood.

I have been a local Eastwood resident for many years and have brought up my family in Netherlee, with both sons currently attending Williamwood High School. Having worked in jobs ranging from local newspapers, commercial property and the editorial team of a neurosurgical journal, I then graduated from the University of Glasgow with a Masters in Scottish Literature and Scots Language before becoming the first female SNP councillor for my local area.

I am delighted to be putting myself forward for selection to run as Eastwood MSP in next year’s elections. The next parliament is a crucial one, an incredibly important one for Scotland, and could very well be the parliament which takes us towards independence.

Eastwood is my family home, it is a wonderful place to live and work in, has a fantastic community with a diversity in wealth and circumstance and has its own unique challenges which, as a local councillor, I work with every single day. I believe that Eastwood needs a voice that will speak for everyone, no matter who you are, or where you come from.

During this Covid crisis I have seen my community come together to help the vulnerable. It has been my absolute privilege to have volunteered with local community groups including Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire, Cosgrove Care and Include Me Too Club.

The people of Eastwood have been badly let down by Conservative policies. We are careering towards a damaging No Deal coupled with a disastrous Internal Market Bill clawing back powers from Scotland. The Conservatives are destroying our local economy, our jobs and are pushing countless people into poverty. Serving as the MSP for Eastwood would be an absolute honour. I am grateful for the opportunity to put myself forward and firmly believe that, if selected, I can be successful here for the SNP.

I can win here, I have the determination, experience, and a proven track record of winning. I am proud of my work with local residents, businesses and community groups. I’ve campaigned extensively for the SNP. I am asking local SNP members to not only vote for me but also to campaign with me as I fight to win against the Conservatives.

Local members are being asked to select their one candidate to go forward into the election next year. One candidate who can win against Jackson Carlaw. I firmly believe that I have the determination, ability, track record, and experience to win in this upcoming election.

Working together, we can win Jackson Carlaw’s seat from the Tories and secure a pro-independence SNP majority in Holyrood.

Annette Ireland
Eastwood